GENERAL JOHN POPE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 12/26/1864 - HFSID 269559

DURING THE CIVIL WAR, UNION MAJOR GENERAL JOHN POPE ORDERS AN OVERCOAT "OF BEAVER CLOTH...DARK BLUE & LIGHT MATERIAL...CLOSE BODIED...MOVEABLE CAPE...SLEEVES TO BE BRAIDED...."
 
JOHN POPE. ALS: "John Pope/Maj Genl", 1p, 8x10. Head-Quarters, Department of the Northwest, Milwaukee, Wis., 1864 December 26. To Spence & Thorndike(?), 470 Broadway, New York City. In part: "Please make for me & send at your very earliest convenience by Express an overcoat to be made as follows- Of Beaver cloth, dark blue & light material, that is not heavy - the coat to be close bodied & long in the skirts with a moveable cape about the length of the capes of the ordinary uniform overcoat - the buttons to be covered...the sleeves to be braided according to regulation for sleeves of uniform coat - I do not wish the overcoat to be heavy, & no padding & as little buckram as possible to be used. I need the overcoat very much & hope you will make & send it without delay." JOHN POPE (1822-1892), a graduate of West Point, fought with distinction at Monterrey and Buena Vista in the Mexican War. During the Civil War, as Commander of the Army of the Mississippi, Pope captured New Madrid and took part in Halleck's move on Corinth. These successes brought him the command of the newly organized Army of Virginia (June 1862), and he was named Brigadier General in the regular army. In late July, 1862, he lost the faith of his men when he made an address praising the western armies and disparaging the efforts of the eastern forces up to that time. In bombastic fashion he declared his headquarters would be in the saddle. This led to a quip that he didn't know his headquarters from his hindquarters. Part of Pope's command was then defeated at Cedar Mountain. Later in August, his command and parts of McClellan's Army of the Potomac fought at 2nd Bull Run. Pope had no idea of the true situation on the field and was routed. He attributed his defeat to alleged disobedience on the part of Fitz-John Porter. At his court-martial, Porter declared that it was impossible to carry out Pope's orders, but he was, nevertheless, cashiered. Eventually, Porter was reinstated. Pope also lost his command on September 21 1862, and the Army of Virginia was merged into the Army of the Potomac ten days later. Pope was assigned the command of the Department of the Northwest, serving until November 28, 1862 and again from February 13, 1863 to February 13, 1865. He was mustered out of the volunteers on September 1, 1866, and held a number of commands, mostly in the West, after the Civil War, until he retired in 1886. Docketed across text: "Answd Dec 29/64". Diagonal fold, small portion at upper right corner missing. Scattered light soiling and foxing. Overall, in fine condition.